Suzanne, I am sooooo glad to hear things worked out. I hope MacKenzie is doing much better and is recouping well. What a scare that had to have been for you to not be there with your baby. I am glad the parents who she was with were able to get the quick medical attention needed and communicate things well with you. I will add MacKenzie and your family to this weeks prayer list. Hugs, Lindy

Katy- Don't be discouraged- I think it's all about the exercise... The weeks that I really up mine I gain- I know the exercise is good for me in the long run- but scale-wise it's really hard to understand and stay motivated. I also know that during certain times of the month I am bigger and am heavier for no reason other than hormones. I'm having a better week so far- 1 1/2 days so far- but I'm upping my protein. Also- are you eating enough- when I'm really exercising I can seriously put away 2400 calories. Just some thoughts... I'm still thinking of another post you wrote- I too love the weights but really have to force myself on the cardio!!! Holly

We tried to talk her into taking up soccer in her off-season...she wasn't interested. Not enough hand-to-hand combat for her, I think. Plus, there are no pads or guards in wrestling like there are in soccer...again, I think she is a glutton for bruises and pain :x. We may have her talked into joining the swim team for summer, though, so that will be a little less drama for us.

Suz- glad all is well- how scary... I hope the triplets will like soccer- seems a little more tame!!! Thank the Lord!!! Holly

Yeah...they are pretty competitive, especially when you consider that MacKenzie is 12 years old and in 6th grade, but is wrestling for the middle school team. She and her brother started 3 years ago when she was in 4th grade, he was in 7th. Forrest broke his ribs twice and decided that this was not the sport for him. She loved it so much that she kept coming back each winter. So, the kids that start early, like 3rd or 4th grade...they either quit right away, or they wrestle through high school and sometimes beyond that. It gets into your blood. She is only one of two girls left on the team after the other two moved up to high school 2 years ago. The other girl is a 66lb. weightclass...she doesn't lose...her whole family wrestles, that's what they do. As for being popular....most people don't really understand it, and most don't know that they can get their younger kids onto the middleschool team. We usually aim to have 60-80kids on the team...but kids drop out, the team shrinks over the season because of grades, behavior, or just not wanting to put the time in. We practice from 3:30pm to 6pm every weeknight, and have tournaments every Saturday from 5am to as late as 10pm....once one went to midnight. This goes on from the Monday after Thanksgiving to the first week in March. Then, a lot of the kids go on the freestyle...that's twice weekly practice with weekend tournys. MacKenzie is emotionally over the getting hurt part. She hates to lose and usually walks off of the mat crying when she does, mostly because she gets so invested in trying to beat the boy/girl that she is up against. It really bruises their ego to lose or become injured because it takes so much bravery to get out there by yourself against another single opponent. She can't wait to get back to wrestling as soon as she is cleared to do so. She is also bummed that the season is pretty well over. It's hard to leave her 70 "brothers and sister"....it's hard for us, too, as we get so close to all of the kids. Anyway, we couldn't be more proud of her if she had one every match all season long.